A./N.: I'm a hopeless tease, I know. Enjoy anyway and leave a review.

CHAPTER 21

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, stood uncomfortably in front of his wife and listened half-heartedly to her rambling about how they could possibly manage the house without their housekeeper much longer and if he had heard anything from Dr Clarkson about when she would be released. For once he understood his mother and the great satisfaction she derived from her sharp rebukes at all times. He fought hard not to roll his eyes mightily at his wife and draw her ire.

"And we are between nannies because the last one resigned due to the tantrums Sybil has thrown since our Mrs Hughes has been in hospital," Cora went on, oblivious to her husband's silence and the increasingly deeper frown on his forehead. "Do you think she would be acceptable to look after Sybil while she recovers until we find another nanny?"

Now he had finally enough and he verbally lashed out at his wife, "Really, Cora, I can't believe you at times! How can you even ask that?" He shook his head in utter disbelief and didn't bother to say any more. He often had the feeling as Cora, despite her American origins, took their servants far more for granted than he did. At least Robert was aware of the family's responsibility for their servants and tenants. "How can she recover with an over-active toddler around?" he asked himself, loud enough that Cora heard him.

"You have seen it and Tom told me. Sybil immediately calmed in Mrs Hughes' arms …"

"Not to be a hypocrite, but Tom is the girl's father. He should take care of her until a nanny is found …"

"How can he be expected to do that? He and Matthew are working on modernising the estate and he was forced to ask Mrs Hughes to watch over Sybil in the first place."

"Then ask one of the maids or Anna," Robert said dismissively.

Cora did roll her eyes at her husband. "All the maids are needed to pick up the chores of Anna and Mrs Hughes since Anna will be filling in as temporary housekeeper in addition to her duties as Mary's lady's maid."

"Well then, what about O'Brien?"

Cora just laughed at her husband without saying a word, but secretly thinking that would be a very interesting experiment indeed. She was still chuckling merrily as they entered the library. Robert was now rolling his own eyes at his wife's exasperated amusement. He couldn't quite understand what was that funny. O'Brien was a woman after all …

Before he had another brainwave, the door was opened and Barrow came in. The under-butler had been surprisingly quiet and demure since he had to stand in for Carson. Anna and Bates had both reported that Barrow was reluctant indeed to make any decisions regarding Mr Carson's work and to give commands to the footmen. He left the maids completely under Mrs Patmore's jurisdiction. Now the younger man stood silently before his employer, small silver tray in hand and bowed slightly, before finally speaking, "A telegram arrived for you, M'Lord." Then he stepped closer and leaned forward so that Robert could easily take the letter from the tray. He took a step back again, but made no move to leave the room. Instead he looked highly uncomfortable and as if he was barely holding himself back from blurting something out.

Robert sighed. He knew that gesture very well indeed in the younger man, in all his previous capacities in this house. Apparently he was up to something or other to disturb the household even more than it already was. It would have been too good to last, he should have known. "What is it, Barrow?" he asked a little colder than intended.

The younger man didn't rise to the bait. He simply looked down and asked softly, "How is Mrs Hughes? I hope she is on her way to recovery." He seemed truly unconcerned.

And suddenly Robert remembered that it had been Mrs Hughes who had helped Barrow the most during the whole unfortunate business with James and Barrow's unwanted attentions to the boy. He bowed his head a little in shame and answered just as softly. "Please inform the staff that Mrs Hughes came out of surgery alive and the treatment is well under way and seems to show the desired effects," he spoke calmly. When he chanced a glance at his under-butler, he could clearly see the relief on his face. The younger man nodded thankfully and left.

"I would never have believed him to be concerned for anybody in this house except himself," Cora remarked from her seat on the settee across for him. Her brows were knit together and her expression was astonished more than anything else. After a few minutes more she remembered the telegram in her husband's hands and prompted her husband to read it. "What does it say?" she asked, nodding towards the envelope in Robert's hands.

Reluctantly Robert opened the envelope and drew out the telegram. It was very short, but clearly stated the important facts. "Coming stop 2 o'clock train stop Glenna Murray"

"Well, that is a relief," Cora commented. "We should welcome her at the station and then bring her to the hospital to see our dear housekeeper. I'm sure Mrs Hughes will be very happy to see her sister."

"Yes, and she will have something to tell her, too," Robert murmured, for once far more informed about the going-ons of the staff than his wife. He couldn't wipe his smug grin off his face.